Rough Boys Ch. 20

This is a copyrighted work of fiction. All rights reserved. Violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

All characters engaged in sexual acts in this story are at least eighteen years of age.

****

Ty felt like he was in a fairytale, except instead of kissing his lover awake, he had kissed him asleep. Abe had a small smile on his lips. He made a very handsome prince.

In spite of his exhaustion, Ty felt better than he had in days. Abe had finally woken up. He had told him he loved him. He sat in a daze holding Abe's hand and staring at his lover's perfect face.

"Are we going to stay here all night?" Jeannie appeared in the doorway.

"He woke up, Jeannie! He woke up and talked to me." Ty told her happily.

"That's great, Ty!" Jeannie said, moving into the room to look at Abe. She thought he looked the same as he had for the last several days. She gave Ty a quick hug, sharing his quiet joy. But she was still tired. "Are we going back to your place soon?"

"Yes, you are! In fact you're leaving now," Teresa said in a stern voice as she barged into the room. She fixed Ty with a steady glare.

Ty stood up and stretched. "I guess I should go sleep in my own bed, huh?"

"Yes, you should."

"And take a shower," Jeannie added, wrinkling her nose. "You stink."

"Thanks, sis," Ty said sarcastically.

"My pleasure."

Teresa chuckled. "Now shoo!"

****

Rain pounded on the roof of the cab and ran in thick rivulets down the windows.

"Pull in here," Ty told the driver. "Get as close to the front door as you can, please." To Jeannie he said, "We're going to get soaked just getting to the front door."

Jeannie waited until Ty paid the cab driver before opening the door, and they both made a dash for the small overhang above the glass doors to Ty's apartment. One of the things Ty didn't like about the apartment was that it wasn't a secure building. Abe had told him that when he'd first rented his unit, they'd had a security guard stationed in the lobby 24/7, but they'd made cuts and, even though they still had security officers who made rounds now and again and checked the cameras, there was no longer someone stationed in the lobby.

On the short ride home from the hospital, it had occurred to Ty that Tim was still out there. He didn't know why Tim had been on the street in front of his house when Abe had been shot, but he didn't think it was merely a coincidence and he couldn't imagine that Tim had been coming by to wish him well.

Whatever Tim wanted, he'd been thwarted by his father, Ty was sure. Tim wasn't the kind to give up. Once Ty had come to this realization, fear had crept into his breast. It was an entirely different kind of anxiety than the stress he'd been living with as he feared for Abe's life, but it was very real. By the time the taxi pulled up in front of his building, his heart was pounding and his palms were slick.

It was impossible to see anything in the dark and rain. There were shadows everywhere. Ty did not breath a sigh of relief when they entered the lighted lobby. It was empty, but he half expected someone, like perhaps Brady, to follow them into the building at any second.

As they waited for the elevator, he kept glancing nervously at the door. Jeannie observed him silently.

After the elevator arrived on their floor, he held out his hand to stop Jeannie from jumping out as he peered cautiously down the corridor. Once he'd ascertained that it was empty, he led her to his apartment.

When they were inside, with the doors locked safely behind them, he breathed a sigh of relief. That didn't stop him from immediately checking the closet, the bathroom and under the bed—the only places in their unit large enough to hide a person.

He straightened from looking under the bed to find Jeannie standing there with her arms folded across her chest and an expression on her face that he knew well. It was her 'I've caught you doing something really stupid' look.

"What are you doing?" she asked in a voice heavy with amusement.

"Uh ... looking for intruders?" Ty grinned sheepishly.

"Is this your normal routine?"

"Huh? No." Ty was thrown for a minute. He didn't want Jeannie to know there was a real reason to be concerned. "I guess I'm just paranoid. This is the first time I've been home since Abe was shot. It must have affected me in a weird way."

"Dad's in jail. You know that, right?"

"Yeah, I guess it doesn't make much sense, does it?" Ty shrugged. "I think I need some sleep. I'll probably be more normal in the morning."

Jeannie grinned. "I doubt that."

Ty rolled his eyes but decided not to get into a tease-fight with his sister just then. He was too tired; she'd win by a landslide. "Why don't you do your thing in the bathroom first? I want to take a shower so I'll be a while."

After Jeannie disappeared into the bathroom, Ty lost no time in pulling out his cell and dialing Sean. He needed help with Tim. He retreated to the kitchen as he listened to the phone ring, hoping his sister wouldn't be able to hear him if he kept his voice low. He turned the water on in the sink to help cover the sound.

"Hey, Ty! How are you, lad? How's Abe?" Sean's deep voice was full of concern.

"I'm doing okay. Abe finally woke up. I think he's doing better."

"That's great to hear. What can we help you with?"

"Well...." Ty hesitated. "I have kind of a strange request." He wasn't sure how to say what he needed to say, so he just plunged in. "Tim was there ... when Abe got shot. I was wondering why. I mean, it's clear my father was the shooter, but Tim being there doesn't really feel like a coincidence."

There was a short pause before Sean said, "You think Tim was up to no good?"

"Uh ... yeah. And I'm worried."

"So Tim has it out for you, for some reason?"

"Yeah, I think ... maybe."

Sean let this information sink in. He had become increasingly distrustful of Tim. When he'd first met Tim, he'd come across as a really straight-up guy, but the more he'd gotten to know him, the more he was getting a creep vibe from him. He didn't trust Tim. And he sure as hell didn't trust Brady, who seemed to be Tim's best mate. But Ty wasn't being forthcoming with his suspicions.

"So, Ty, if you want my help, I think I need a little more information here. Why do you think Tim is after you?"

Ty shuffled his feet nervously. He really didn't want to talk about this, but he trusted Sean and felt that he deserved some answers. He closed his eyes and whispered into the phone, "I stayed with him for a few weeks while I was ... uh, homeless. When I left I stole some drugs from him." Heated shame washed over his face.

This time the pause was longer and Ty started to worry that he'd just lost a friend.

Sean was swallowing his own shame. He'd introduced Ty to Tim. He'd given Ty his first coke and encouraged him to continue. Sean was smart enough to work it out. Tim had obviously gotten Ty hooked and then scared him. Or maybe Brady had scared him. In any case, Ty had run, and in his need, he'd taken some drugs with him.

"So you think Tim wants revenge for your theft?" Sean asked.

"Well ... he already got his revenge for that." Ty's voice broke when he said this and Sean's hackles immediately rose.

Tim had obviously hurt Ty—badly—for a problem Tim himself had no doubt caused.

"So, Tim hurt you?" Sean asked, his voice tight.

"Yeah, but I can't talk about it," Ty whispered.

Ice slid down Sean's spine. This is bad. Whatever happened was really bad. This coming on the heels of Kaeden's experience and Sean's firsthand look at how sick some people really were, hit a nerve deep inside him. Rage seethed through him, but he held himself in check as his brain wrestled with the information, trying to sort it into a set that made sense.

"There's something else too, isn't there Ty? You must have some reason to think he's still out for you if he's already gotten his revenge."

"I can't talk about that either." Ty's voice climbed in panic. He was beginning to think he'd made a mistake calling for help. If he wasn't careful, Sean was going to find out what Abe had done. He might not do anything with that information, but Ty didn't want to take that chance. He tried to think of something to say to steer the conversation in a different direction.

Sean's drug-free brain was firing on all synapsis. The question that he immediately posed to himself was, "What else could Ty have done that would make Tim want revenge?"

The answer hit him like a thunderbolt. Tim had been badly beaten, almost killed. Sean had read the news reports. The attacker had been described as a very large black man. Abe! Normally Sean would never have suspected that the gentle giant was capable of hurting anyone, but his own recent experience with Mark told him that, given the proper motivation, anyone could be a killer. He hadn't killed Mark, but could have, likely would have if his next victim hadn't been there to bear witness. He could believe that if Tim had hurt Ty badly, especially if Abe had seen it, he would be capable of the same.

Sean swallowed hard. "Okay, so you want me to tell Tim to back off?"

Ty breathed a small sigh of relief. Sean wasn't going to press him for details. "Well, it could have been a coincidence, right?"

"Alright. I'll talk to him—find out if he's hiding something." And tell him to leave you the feck alone! "I'm really glad Abe is going to pull through. Try not to let the news bother you too much."

"What? What do you mean?" Ty was thoroughly confused. Why would I be bothered that Abe is getting better?

"You haven't seen the news this evening?"

"No." A sinking feeling settled over Ty.

Jeannie came into the living room in a T-shirt and lounge pants and looked at Ty curiously.

Ty turned off the tap. Jeannie could obviously hear him now, regardless.

"I'm sorry," Sean was saying. "I realize you probably don't want everyone in the world to know about your issues, but it was the top story on channel five's six o'clock news. You can probably catch it on the ten o'clock news too ... which started about three minutes ago."

"Shit! Thanks!" Ty headed into the living area and grabbed the remote.

"I'll call you once I've talked to Tim and let you know what he says."

"'K—thanks, Sean. I really appreciate it." Ty's attention was riveted to the TV as he fumbled to hang up his cell and change channels at the same time. He tossed his phone onto the coffee table and flipped to channel five.

The picture came into view just in time for the attractive blond announcer to be replaced with a video clip. It had obviously been taken by someone's cell phone. It was grainy and unsteady, but the sound of Ty's keening wails could clearly be heard.

Every hair on Ty's body stood on end.

The camera panned in on him, kneeling over Abe's bloody torso. His face was clearly visible, in absolute anguish.

Ty's stomach twisted and saliva immediately began to fill his mouth.

"Oh my god!" he heard Jeannie cry as if from a distance.

He sank slowly onto the couch, swallowing repeatedly. Luckily this part of the clip was mercifully short. Other people got in the way of the camera's view. Just before the clip cut to another scene, you could hear Ty crying, "I love you. I love you. You can't die!"

The next scene was from a further distance and it showed the EMTs running to the ambulance carrying a comatose Abe. It showed Ty trying to get into the ambulance, Officer Thompson holding him back, and Ty collapsing as the ambulance pulled away. The scene then cut to Ty being helped into a Black and White by Thompson.

Ty didn't even remember that part.

This was followed by a close up of his father's swollen, bloody face. It panned out to him being carried away by EMTs and loaded into another ambulance.

All the while the announcer was narrating in a calm voice, explaining that Ty was gay and his homophobic father had attempted to kill him and his boyfriend. Ty's senior picture, showing a smiling, very young-looking Ty, was displayed.

Ty remembered getting that photo taken and it had seemed like ages ago. He suddenly realized he had tears streaming down his face and Jeannie's arms were around him. She was crying too. At least he didn't feel as if he was about to barf anymore.

The newscast then interviewed a witness, a young Hispanic man, who described hearing the shot and seeing a guy with a cane attack the man in the car.

"At the time we broke the story earlier this evening, the rescuer was unknown. He has now come forward. Let's hear his side of the story."

Suddenly Tim was on the news. He was smiling confidently, holding his cane at a jaunty angle.

"What the fuck?" Ty spat out.

The newscaster interviewed Tim and he came across very well. He said he'd been on his way to visit a friend when he had seen the man shoot at Abe. He said he had been very close and simply acted on instinct.

The newscaster complimented him on taking out the attacker so easily and Tim commented that he was stronger than most people realized. He said he'd done a lot of working out while he was convalescing. The newscaster then went on to tell the story of the attack on Tim which had happened the previous summer. The perpetrator had never been caught.

All in all, Tim came across looking like a hero. He didn't mention that he knew Ty.

"Fuck!" was all Ty could say when the broadcast cut to a commercial. He realized he was shaking.

"Oh my god, Ty! That must have been so awful for you." Jeannie was still crying. She hugged him tightly.

Ty flipped quickly through the rest of the local news channels. It looked like the story was being told on every station. Not all of them had as much detail or an interview with Tim, although most of them showed a picture of him, holding his cane with a cocky smile.

"That Tim guy's kinda cute," Jeannie said.

"He's a creep," Ty said harshly. "If I never see him again, it'll be too soon."

"Oh!" Jeannie was surprised. "You know him?" Ty almost never held such strongly negative opinions about anyone.

"Yeah. Wish I didn't," Ty said dryly.

"So what are you going to do?"

"About what? The news?"

Jeannie nodded.

"I don't think there's anything I can do. The damage has already been done. Fuck! I suppose everyone from high school knows now."

"Yeah," Jeannie said quietly. "I suppose they do. You weren't planning to stay in the closet anyway were you?"

"It's not just that. In fact, I guess I don't really care so much that they announced on the news that I'm gay. What I'm totally embarrassed about is that my father's a complete loon. Yours too, by the way."

"Oh shit! Everyone is going to ask me a million questions on Monday." Jeannie's face went red just thinking about it.

"Sorry, sis," Ty said miserably. At least my bosses already knew I was gay, he thought.

"Hey, it's not your fault," Jeannie said patting his arm. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired as hell. I'm gonna hop in the shower. Let me get you a blanket and pillow."

****

Ty woke suddenly. He could hear Jeannie yelling, but she didn't sound panicked. He jumped out of bed, glancing at the clock. Seven a.m.

He ran into the living area to find Jeannie standing at the door yelling at someone on the other side.

"Go away! We don't want to talk to you."

Ty felt the blood drain from his face as his heart started pounding. "Who is it?" he whispered in a panicked voice.

"Just the stupid news. They want to interview you."

"Oh, hell!"

"Hey, I just have a few questions," a voice on the other side of the door called.

"No! Go away!" Ty yelled back. Although he knew he'd locked the door the night before, he double-checked the bolts then peered cautiously through the peephole.

There were four men in the hallway. Two had professional video equipment and the other two looked like reporter types.

Ty crossed the room and turned on the stereo—loudly. Emelio Iglesias immediately drowned out whatever the reporters might be able to yell through the door. Next he went into the kitchen and made a pot of coffee. The familiar actions calmed him.

Jeannie came into the kitchen and began looking through his cupboards until she found the cereal. She pulled out a box of Cheerios and sat it on the counter. Going to the fridge, she got out the milk while Ty found bowls and spoons.

They sat quietly at the table, afraid to talk for fear the reporters would hear them. When they'd finished eating and cleaning up, Ty glanced out the peephole again. There was only one team of reporters there now, but they looked like they were prepared to wait it out. The cameraman had set his equipment down and was sitting on the floor across from Ty's door, leaning against the wall. The reporter was pacing back and forth.

Shit! How am going to get out to visit Abe?

Ty headed for his bedroom, motioning Jeannie to follow. He closed the door behind her, and the noise from the blaring stereo was nicely muted.

"What the hell?" Ty fumed. "Why don't they go away? This sucks! How am I going to visit Abe now? I don't want to go out there with those assholes waiting to hound me."

"Isn't there someone you could call that could help you?" Jeannie asked. "At least tell you what to do?"

"I don't know who," Ty said. Sean was fairly intimidating, but he'd already called in a favor from him. "Shit, I know who!" Ty said suddenly. Officer Thompson would at least have advice for him. It was 7:45 a.m. He hoped that wasn't too early to call. The officer had told him to call him any time for any reason when he'd slipped him his card.

Ty fished in the pocket of his discarded jeans and found Thompson's number.

"Thompson here," the voice barked.

Ty gulped. He sounded as intimidating as Ty remembered. "Uh ... it's Ty."

"Oh hi, Ty." The voice was softer. "How are you? How's Abe?"

"Good. Abe's getting better."

"That's great. What can I do for you?"

"Um ... there are reporters outside my door waiting to talk to me. I've told them to go away, but they're still there. Is there anything I can do about them? I want to go visit Abe."

"Yeah, I saw the news. Sorry about that, kid. Why don't you hang tight? I'm heading in to work and I'll swing by and give you a ride. You're on Ninth Avenue, right?"

Ty gave Officer Thompson directions and hung up with a relieved sigh. "We're going to get a police escort," he told Jeannie.

Her eyes widened.

A half hour later Ty, ready to go, was pacing. Jeannie was sitting on the couch flipping through one of Abe's fitness magazines. The stereo was still blaring so when someone rapped loudly on the door it caught Ty by surprise. He cautiously looked through the peephole and ascertained that it was Officer Thompson. There was no one else in the hallway.

Ty swung the door open with a smile.

"Hey kid. You're looking a lot better than you did the last time I saw you." Officer Thompson grinned as he stepped into the apartment. Ty was surprised at how big he was—not as big as Abe, but almost Sean's size. He had been so freaked out over Abe the last time he'd seen him, he'd failed to notice details. He remembered his ice-chip eyes though, which were still as pale blue as ever but seemed a bit warmer today.

"Yeah. Abe's getting better. Looks like he's not going to die after all." Ty had called the hospital already that morning and one of the nurses had assured him that Abe was still doing fine, just grouchy because he wasn't allowed to have coffee.

"That's great to hear." Thompson took in Jeannie. "This is your sister." There was no question in his voice. Ty and Jeannie could have been twins except for the three-year age difference.

Ty introduced them and as they were walking to the elevator Thompson said, "There was a whole gaggle of reporters in the lobby when I arrived. I guess they figured out there is only one way out of this building unless you want to set off the fire alarm."